A Newport MP has criticised the UK Government over its handling of the Job Retention Scheme, or furlough, in Wales.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Newport East MP Jessica Morden criticised the fact that the UK Government announced an extension to the furlough scheme after it was announced that England would enter a second national lockdown after previously refusing to do the same for Wales.
“Wales has been little more than an afterthought for the UK Government yet again, and the Prime Minister is letting down Welsh workers,” said Ms Morden.
The UK Government announced on October 31 that the furlough scheme would be extended after a national lockdown was announced for England.
It was met with criticism from many in Wales, including First Minister Mark Drakeford, who said that an earlier request by the Welsh Government for an extension to the furlough scheme ahead of the firebreak had been refused .
After the announcement by the UK Government on the weekend, Mark Drakeford tweeted: "Furlough is crucial for businesses. But Rishi Sunak said he wouldn’t extend it in Wales when we asked.
"He also said no when we asked him to bring forward the Job Support Scheme to help businesses – we even said we’d pay the difference. It’s now clear he could have said yes.”
Speaking to the House of Commons on Monday, Ms Morden said: "May I echo the frustration expressed by other members representing Welsh constituencies that the Prime Minister acted on furlough only when setting out England-wide action?
“As he has not explicitly said this, will he confirm that furlough support will be backdated in Wales? What funding will come to Wales as a result of the business grant support announced on Saturday?"
She also asked for "urgent clarity" from Prime Minister Boris Johnson on whether furlough will be backdated in Wales and what support businesses will receive from the recently announced Business Grant Support.
The Prime Minister said the government would "continue to support all parts of the UK, as we have throughout this crisis."
In response, Ms Morden said she was disappointed that the Prime Minister did not answer her question.
"Workers in Newport East and across Wales need urgent clarity from the Government on whether furlough will be backdated to the start of the firebreak lockdown, and on what support businesses here will receive from the recently announced Business Grant support,” she said.
“It was disappointing that the Prime Minister wouldn't answer my question on this.”
